Kalidas Karmakar

Kalidas Karmakar (1946—2019) was one of Bangladesh's most influential and experimental modern artists, celebrated for his relentless innovation, profound symbolism, and spiritual depth. Born in Faridpur, he studied at the Institute of Fine Arts (now Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka) and later at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, shaping a cross-cultural vision that merged local sensibilities with global modernism.

Throughout his prolific five-decade career, Kalidas pioneered new artistic languages through painting, printmaking, mixed media, and performance art. His signature "collagraph" technique—layering textures and materials like metal, jute, handmade paper, and found objects—transformed the surface into a field of energy, emotion, and meaning. Deeply inspired by the elemental forces of soil, water, and nature, his works embody the "alluvial soul" of Bengal, while also addressing universal concerns of freedom, suffering, and spiritual awakening.

Kalidas's art was showcased in major solo and group exhibitions across Asia, Europe, and the United States, earning him widespread international recognition. His accolades include the Grand Prix at the 2nd Bharat Bhavan Biennale (1990), Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Award (1983), and the Ekushey Padak (2018)—Bangladesh's second-highest civilian honour.

Kalidas Karmakar's legacy endures as that of a visionary who fused material experimentation with metaphysical thought. In his own words, "My paintings are the images of my life. My works are a constant endeavour to win freedom—freedom from pain, frustration, and decadence, and towards the chariot of light."